US Airstrikes Kill Eight Police Officers in Southern Afghanistan

At least eight policemen were killed in airstrikes carried out by the United States in the southern province of Urozgan, Afghanistan, a representative of a local law enforcement body told Sputnik on Monday.

KABUL (Sputnik) — Taliban militants are currently operating in the Urozgan province.

"The first strike killed one policeman, the second one killed other seven police officers when they gathered at the site of the incident," Hadjhi Rahim, the head of the road safety unit, said.

According to Rahim, the Taliban insurgents were not present in the area when the airstrikes hit the region, while US Lt. Gen. Charles Cleveland told Pajhwok Afghan news agency that the air forces had responded to the attack on the Afghan army by a group of unknown armed individuals.

Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with government forces fighting the continuing Taliban insurgency, while other extremist groups, such as Daesh, outlawed in many countries including Russia, have also expanded their activities both in the country and in neighboring states.